The 8 Best Pilot Aviation Headsets: 2019 Ultimate Buyers Guide

Do you work as a pilot? If this is the case, you understand the difficulties of maintaining your cool and relaxing, while flying at high speed through the air. Although this can be very trying.

Ensuring you have the right headphone equipment can improve the experience greatly. In order to do this, you will need to find a reliable pair of pilot aviation headphones. What do you need to look for? You will find out below!

What to Look For in Pilot Aviation Headsets

When attempting to purchase a pair of pilot aviation headphones, there are numerous things to consider. Below, you will find a breakdown of the most important factors to consider.

Price – Whether you’re purchasing a TV, piece of clothing or a headset, you’ll always want to consider price. Price is absolutely vital and you’ll want to stay, within your budget. Of course, you should make sure that you remain realistic. Set a budget and stick with it and you’ll be fine.

Comfort – Comfort is absolutely vital! Remember that you’re going to be flying high in the sky. It could be potentially dangerous to remove your hands from the controls to adjust your headset. With this in mind, comfort is vital! The headphones should be comfortable and they should remain in place, at all times!

ANR Technology – Aviation headphones are a little bit different from traditional headphones. They can be equipped with ANR or ANC technology. This is nothing more than active noise reduction, but it is majorly improved and is a fairly new technology. This technology is capable of reducing low frequency noises, including the plane’s engine. Choosing a pair of headphones with this technology is highly recommended.

Microphone – Being able to communicate back and forth with those outside of the cockpit is absolutely vital! Therefore, make sure that you select a pair of headphones that are equipped with an excellent microphone. Make sure that you’re able to speak clearly with these individuals and that they’ll be able to understand you perfectly.

Sound Quality – Sound quality is absolutely vital, when attempting to choose a pair of aviation headphones. You should make sure that you’re going to be able to hear air traffic control, without difficulty. Their voices should come through clearly and understandably. Spending extra for better sound quality is always recommended.

A Carrying Case – Although this one isn’t absolutely necessary, a carrying case can prove to be exceptionally helpful. The case will give you the ability to carry around the headset and keep it entirely safe, when it is not in use. If your flight bag is equipped with a headset slot, this might not be such a big deal.

Volume Controls – Always look at the headset and make sure that you inspect all of the controls carefully. They should be easily accessible, so you don’t have to remove your hands from the wheel for too long. Also, you should know that some offer volume adjustments for both ears, while others have a singular adjuster.

Warranty – Although the majority of these headphones are well made and fairly durable, a warranty is still a nice addition. The warranty can protect your investment for a much longer period of time and will provide you with more peace of mind! A longer warranty is always better!

All of the above factors are absolutely vital, when attempting to purchase a pair of headphones for aviation purposes. Below, you will be able to find reviews for the 8 best pilot aviation headsets.

Best Overall Value

David Clark H10-13.4 Aviation Headset

If you are looking for an aviation or professional headset that is reliable and durable, you should look no further than the David Clark H10-13.4.

This headset is constructed out of heavy duty materials and double padding. The ear cuffs are constructed out of gel, which will provide more comfort for your ears, even when wearing them for long sessions.

The headband is equipped with double-foam padding with is very soft and capable of preventing pressure being placed on the top of the head and hair pulling.

The user-friendly control knob is in comfortable positioned on the upper exterior ear cuff, so you will have easy access to it. This will also prevent you from having to remove the headset, when you are amid flying.

The H10-13.4 headset is compatible with any aircraft that is equipped with a 2-plug connection jack. It also requires no batteries, so you do not have to be bothered with replacing them on a routine basis.

The high-quality microphone is equipped with a flexible arm, so you can make easy adjustments. The headset is slightly heavy and weighs in at 16.5 ounces, without the cables, so be sure to keep this in mind, when you are considering purchasing the David Clark headset.​

Pros

5-Year manufacturer’s warranty

Very affordable

American made product

Flexible microphone arm

Cons

No carrying case included

Slightly heavier than other brands

If you are searching for an affordable headset, you should definitely consider the David Clark H10-13.4, because they are constructed out of heavy duty materials. You should expect to receive a long service life from this high-quality headset.

Amazon Customer Reviews

Best Under £1100

Bose® A20 Aviation Headset

If you’re looking for the best of the best and don’t mind spending lavishly, you’ll definitely want to check out the Bose A20 Aviation Headset.

With this headset, you’ll have a variety of different options available to you, including Bluetooth or no Bluetooth. You can also select between several different material types.

Regardless of your choices, these headphones will provide you with 30% improved noise reduction, when compared to many other aviation headsets.

These headphones are equipped with an auxiliary audio input, which allows you to listen to GPS messages and transmissions from other devices.

With the Bluetooth connectivity, you’ll be able to receive telephone calls, without removing the headset. Also, the headphones are extremely comfortable! They’ll remain snug on your head throughout the entire flight! More pros can be found below.

Pros

30% better noise reduction than many other aviation headsets

Entirely comfortable and stable

Auxiliary audio input, so you can use them with your GPS

Bluetooth connectivity is excellent and offers more freedom

Only weighs 12 ounces

Awesome audio transmission in both directions

Cons

Requires 2 AA batteries, which can be annoying and cost ineffective over time

More expensive than the rest

Overall, Bose has definitely knocked it out of the park with this headset! Although they’re definitely more expensive, the price increase is justified, thanks to added features and enhanced audio quality!

Amazon Customer Reviews

Best Under $1000

Lightspeed ZULU.2

If you’re looking for the best pair of aviation headphones and don’t mind splurging, you’ve got to check out the Lightspeed ZULU.2. These headphones are some of the most reliable and comfortable on the market. A stereo to mono switch gives the user to ability to adjust the audio to perfectly fit their needs.

These headphones are also compatible with Bluetooth, which allows them to connect to a wide assortment of different devices, including cell phones.

An automatic shutoff ensures that these headphones are battery efficient. This specific headset has ANR technology, which guarantees that you do not get distracted, while flying. The microphone is great and allows you to communicate effective with the flight control.

The very handy ComPriority feature will automatically lower the volume of your auxiliary device, so you can clearly hear any radio or intercom transmission. This ensures that you’re never caught off guard and never miss any important messages.

Pros

Under $1000 and well worth the price

Very comfortable with tons of extra padding

Bluetooth connectivity is great and lengthy

Equipped with a stereo/mono switch

ComPriority is awesome and will help to assure you don’t miss important transmissions

Automatic shutoff helps to save battery

Microphone works great and transmits brilliant audio quality

Cons

Still a little bit expensive for some

Microphone can produce a boom commonly

Overall, there is definitely a lot to like about the Lightspeed headset. Although there are a few tiny flaws, these headphones are some of the best on the market! If you’re not working on a limited budget, you should definitely check them out in more depth!

Amazon Customer Reviews

Best Under $500

Sennheiser S1 PASSIVE Pilot Headset

Over the years, Sennheiser has released some excellent headsets, which are specifically designed for a wide variety of purposes.

The S1 PASSIVE is certainly one of their best and will serve the majority of pilots admirably! These headphones are well under the $500 mark and ultimately worth the final price.

First and foremost, these headphones are loaded with tons of padding. They’re also lightweight and weigh less than 3 pounds. This guarantees you’ll be able to wear them comfortably for the entire trip!

These headphones are also fitted with thoroughly impressive passive attenuation. This works excellently and allows you to maintain your focus, whether you’re flying a multi-engine propeller plane or a helicopter.

These are equipped with a 3.5mm jack, so you can connect them to an innumerable variety of different devices, including music players, tablets and phones.

In order to provide you with safety and ensure that you hear all crucial messages, the audio from the music player or mobile phone will automatically be muted, when the control tower transmits audio to you.

For the price, these headphones are equipped with some excellent features, which will be explored in more depth below.

Pros

Very comfortable and adjustable design

Affordable enough for almost everyone

Equipped with 3.5 mm jack, which provides extreme versatility

Awesome passive attenuation

Conveniently placed volume controls

Durable and last for a long period of time

Cons

No Bluetooth compatibility

Volume controls can get into the way sometimes

Overall, the Sennheiser S1 PASSIVE headphones might be affordable, but they’re topnotch in many areas and surpass more expensive headphones in others. Be sure to check them out today!

Amazon Customer Reviews

Cheapest

RA200 Rugged Air Aviation Pilot Headset

Many pilots are only interested in saving money and there is definitely nothing wrong with this attitude. If this speaks to you, it is time to check out the RA200 Rugged Air Aviation Pilot Headset.

Despite being incredibly affordable, these headphones are equipped with some excellent features and will prove to be astoundingly comfortable.

The Foam Fit feature helps to protect your ears, while also sealing the cups around your ears. This helps to ensure that nobody is forced to listen to your music.

This headset is equipped with a 3.5mm jack, which guarantees compatibility with a wide assortment of different devices, including iPods, phones and MP3 players.

One of the most impressive aspects of all is the incredible 7-year warranty! This guarantees the item’s longevity and that you’ve made a good investment, by purchasing this headset! More pros can be found below for your convenience.

Pros

Incredibly affordable

Foam Fit offers tons of comfort

Very versatile and can be utilized on and off of the plane

Very sensitive microphone, which is capable of picking up even the quietest of sounds

Sound is very impressive overall

Cons

Adjusting the size is difficult and time consuming

No Bluetooth compatibility

Some failures may be experienced, after limited use

Overall, the RA200 Rugger Air Aviation Pilot Headset is great for most and very affordable. The 7-year warranty elevates these headphones significantly and makes them well worth the price!

Amazon Customer Reviews

Best Under $200

FARO G2-PNR Premium

Are you looking for a pair of aviation headphones, with a little customization? If this is the case, you should look no further than the FARO G2-PNR Premium.

These headphones are available in four individual colors, including black, blue, gray and green.

They’re also designed in an innovative way that makes them incredibly comfortable throughout a long flight. With up to 26dB of noise reduction, you will be able to hone in on important messages, while ignoring your passengers and the plane’s engine.

A 3-year replacement warranty is excellent and helps to improve the overall value of this headset. With the Premium Noise Cancelling Electret Microphone, you can guarantee that your message will be heard loud and clear every time!

This headset is equipped with a 3.5mm auxiliary cable, which guarantees that they’ll work with the majority of devices on the market, including iPods, iPads and many different mobile phones! The cord length is great and will provide you with a little freedom, during use.

Pros

Excellent overall value

3-year warranty is great

Less than 2 pounds and very comfortable

3.5mm cable offers tons of usability

Excellent customer service

Cons

No Bluetooth

3-year warranty is less than others

In the end, the FARO G2-PNR Premium Headset is an excellent choice for almost everyone. It is very affordable, well built and comes with a 3-year warranty. Anyone, who is looking to save money, will definitely want to check out this specific headset!

Amazon Customer Reviews

Best Under $700

Lightspeed SIERRA ANR

If you are an airplane or co-pilot, you definitely rely on your headset for many different tasks.

Reliability is surely a must, when is why you should consider the Lightspeed Sierra ANR. This headset is crafted out of heavy duty materials, which will offer durability and longevity.

The ear cuffs and headband is equipped with double, soft padding, which will provide comfort, even when wearing them for long periods of time.

The fiber-reinforced polymer headband is also adjustable, so you can perfectly customize your fit, without having to take the device off.

You will receive a speaker and microphone cable with your purchase, with is capable with an aircraft FA intercom system. The microphone is flexible and capable of making a 180 degree turn, so you can move it out of your way, while you are piloting an aircraft.

Pros

5-Year manufacturer’s warranty included

Bluetooth capabilities

Comes with a storage case

Very comfortably designed

Cons

Some interference experienced, when wearing glasses or near window

Bluetooth feature only works when connected to source device

Slightly expensive

If you are looking for a very reliable aviation headset, you definitely should consider the Lightspeed Sierra ARN, because it will never let you down. The 5-year warranty will definitely make the price tag look a whole lot better.

Amazon Customer Reviews

Conclusion

At the end of the day, attempting to purchase a pair of headphones for piloting purposes can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Don’t rely on someone else’s opinion. Instead, you should take the time to explore all of the various factors of these headphones and weigh these to your own preferences and desires. By doing this, you will be able to select the very best headphones for your individualistic needs!

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